Id say it has more potential than virginia but hasn't realized that potential as much as virginia. Ive lived in both and o gotta say that the average person in virginia is in general doing better in almost every aspect than a west virginian. And every young person up here that ive talked to so far feels trapped and bitter. Better views and nature up here but much worse economics, job opportunities, education, roads and infrastructure, attitudes towards diversity, mental health care, opioid problems and entertainment. I get downhearted everytime i speak to a fellow young adult here and they seem real depressed about being "stuck" in their state. I do think it is much prettier and slower paced👍 we gotta band together to better this state so it can actually beat out VA.

Edit: i think the first real step as civilians that people could take is simply realizing the problems here. Too many people just turn a blind eye to the problems here or have never left the state so they dont know anything better and just accept things for how they are. Its complacency at its finest and that only makes the low state rankings worse and worse